Manicure buffer



April 5, 1938. w R WATRQUS 2,113,552

MANICURE BUFFER Filed Dec. 5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 new;

ATTORNEY.

April 5, 1938. w. R. WATROUS 2,113,552

MANICURE BUFFER Filed Dec. 5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MANICURE BUFFER William R. Watrous, Chester, Conn., assignor to Hamilton 0. Bates, Chester, Conn.

Application December 5, 1936, Serial No. 114,417

9 Claims.

v This invention relates to improvements in manicure implements and is directed more particularly to an improved nail buffer.

It is one of the principal objects of the invention to provide a nail buffer having a cover of flexible material removably held thereon in a novel way so that it is neatly and firmly held in 'place yet so arranged that it may be easily replaced when desired. The buffer is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and the parts may be easily assembled.

It is one of the other objects of the invention toprovide a buffer having novel cover-retaining means which is so arranged that it does not pro- J'ect objectionably beyond the block body of the buffer. Preferably the buffer includes a block over which the cover is folded and a shell which fits over the block and the whole arrangement is .such that the shell substantially embraces marginal edges of the cover as well as the retaining means.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a buffer construction wherein a shell member is arranged to fit over the block and clamp the marginal edge portions of the cover material with a spring-like action. That is, the parts may be arranged so that the shell, or at least a part thereof, bears on the flexible material in such a way as to yieldingly hold the parts in place.

Still a further feature of the invention is the provision of means whereby the block itself is more or less expansible and is adapted to have a bearing effect on the cover material so as to cooperate with the retaining means and provide an efficient and secure assembly of parts.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following description thereof and reference will be had in that description to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a buffer embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a block member;

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of a block showing a clip member associated therewith;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view showing a shell and clip member associated with the block;

Fig. 5 is a partial side elevational view of the assembly shown in Fig. 4 with parts broken away for clearness; r

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of a'modified form of arrangement;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of the modified form shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one form of block 7 member;

assembly including the block member shown in Fig. 8;

-Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one form of shell member;

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevational view of an enlarged scale to explain certain features of construction;

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the preferred form of the invention with parts broken away for clearness;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the block of the buffer shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of the block shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a partial plan view of a modified form of block;

Fig. 16 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 4'sh0wing the preferred form of the invention; and h Fig. 1'7 is a partial side elevational view of the assembly shown in Figs. 12 and 16 with the shell removed for the sake of clearness.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the invention will be fully described.

A buffer of the general type of this invention broadly includes a block, a cover of flexible material folded about the block, a top shell, and some means for holding the cover about the block. As will appear, this retaining means may take various forms according to this invention.

A buffer having these elements is shown in Fig. 1, the cover being represented by C, and shown folded over the block and the shell indicated generally, at 2 with a handle 4 extending upwardly therefrom. As one of the features of this invention, the retaining means is not readily visible.

The preferred form of retaining means, however, includes a round yielding band for extending around the block and bearing on marginal edges of the cover C. Accordingly I provide a block 6, usually formed of wood, and this has a groove 1 in a side thereof. The groove 1 is preferably continuous and extends around the block adjacent to its upper edge as shown in Fig. 2.

This groove 1 is adapted to receive an endless stretchable or resilient retaining member l6 which is preferably in the form of a small and round coil spring, as shown. The groove 1 and spring l6 are of such relative sizes that the marginal edges of the cover and spring may be well seated within the groove so that the spring does not project appreciably beyond the planes of the sides of the block 6, as clearly shown in Fig. 11.

The top member is indicated generally by 2 and 'may be formed of some plastic material or metal.

It preferably, however, includes a top part l2 and side flanges 14 and these flanges l4 are adapted to extend downwardly adjacent the spring so that the latter is hidden from view.

""As is shown in Fig. 4, the cover C, which is formed of some flexible material, usually chamois,

is folded about the block and has upper marginal edge portions disposed in the groove 1 and held there by the spring I6. I have found that if the upper part of the block, thatis the part above the groove 7, is cut back as shown in Fig. 11,

more or less of a space is provided to accommo date any excess cover material so that theshell member may fit snugly without interference.

It may be here stated that it, is usual to-secure a member N3 of some resilient or.soft material, such as felt or the like, to the under face of the block 6.

- arate when the implement is beingused.

1 One wayin-which this may be done is to provide what may be called a clip member or members, such as 10, which includes spring-like side pieces 9 for overlying the spring -l6 as well as bearing against the-marginaledge parts of the cover material. Preferably this clip is metallic and is secured to theshell in some'way, as by soldering, so as to be an integral part thereof.

In some cases, the clip member-lll may be more or less U-shaped as shown in Fig. 4 or the side pieces 9 may be associated-with the shell in some way. In the-former case, a groove or indentation 8 may be provided in the upper face of the body 6 as indicatedinFig. 3.

Where the-side pieces 9 only are used, they are, of course, arranged to bear on the cover material below the spring I6 with a yielding action. In this way, the shell is held in place, while at the same time the retaining means is hidden from view.

-According to the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7, a block 6 is provided with a groove 7 and a recess 1" in its-sides, one above the other. The upper groove 1' is like groove l in block 6 and adapted: to receive the edges of the coveriand spring l6 as shown. 7

With this form, the shell member includes an upper part l2 and side flanges l4. and these flanges are provided with indentations l5 toform projections which are adapted to fit into material C and the'projections, l5 thereof are therecesses 'l", as shown inFig.-6. That is, the shell, which may or may not have -a handle part 4, is arranged to embrace the'upper part of the block and marginal edge. portions'of the cover adapted to engage and press the cover material intorecesses 1,, below the spring, all. as shown..

It will be seen that the shellis thus held in engagement with the block, although additional means for holding thepartsin .assembly may be provided if desired.

Or, if desired,a shell 2!! may be provided as shown in Fig. 10. Here, the; shell includes a top part 22 with side flanges 24 and the flanges are formed. to have as integral, parts thereof yieldable tongues 26. :,With,this arrangement the tongues overlie the spring :"and are adapted to" bear on the cover material and hold the shell This is not an important 'part ofthe' invention, however, and hereafter any reference in place in much the same manner as does the clip referred to. 7

It is also possible, according to this invention to provide a block 30, which is of the same general shape as block 6 and preferably: formed of wood. Here, however, the block is provided with one or more slots 32 in its upper face, as shown incFig. 8.

The slots 32 preferably extend longitudinally thereof and may or may not extend to the ends thereof; With this arrangement, the cover material is associated with the block in much the same manner as with. block 6 and a spring l6" extends therearound and holds the cover in a suitable depression.

A shell member 34 fits thereover and has the flanges for lying adjacent the sides of the block and spring 16":- Wedge parts '36 are provided and these extend in'to slots 32 and'; as is obvious, spread the block slightly -so that the cover material is urged into yielding engagement with the flanges. H.

If desired, the wedges 36 may be connected to the shell,- as shown,- and in this way the shell and block are held in-associationw Or; in another way, the wedges 36 may beseparateparts and the shell 34 heldin -position by someother' suitable-means.'-

It is desired to point out, with particular reference to Fig. 11,-that the shell 2, With or without the clip, is adapted-to'haveits flanges extendsubstantially vertically and the round spring -I 6 is so arranged in the g roove that it does not project objectionably. Thereforethe flanges of the shell do not need to be-btherthan flat straight flanges since they do not flt 'or receive the spring and this makes for economy in manufacture as well as improves the appearance of the article.

According to'the preferred form of the invention, as shown in Figs. 12-17 inclusive, a block 42 is provided with a groove 48 which has anopen side with parts thereof directed" in opposite directions, asshown more clearly in Fig. 14. This groove 48 may or may not be substantially centrally disposed and there-may or may not be such a groove on each side of the block as In any event, however, it is desirable that the groove or grooves 48 have open upper sides (see Fig. 13) and have portions which open into a peripheral groove 54 (see Fig. 14) which is sub-- stantially similar'to previously described grooves l and -'l'. A clip memberill which 'is preferably U-shaped and formed of metal-is'associ-atedwith the block 42 and arranged so thatside pieces thereof "extend in substantial -'parallelismwith the planes of theside walls of the block and adjacent the grooves48.-- 4

It willbe seen then that the side pieces of clip 50 cooperate with the inner walls of grooves 48 to provide a three-walled groove having an m upper side". Thus cover-material C maybe folded about block 42 and marginaledge portions se'ated in groove 54' while center: marginal portions of the cover-may be pulled upover clip'50 and seated in grooves 48.

Then a resilient retaining member, 44, preferably in the'form of anendless, roun'd coil'spring as previously described may embrace the covered block and be seated in groove 54 and parts thereof pulled up over the clip side pieces and released so as to yieldingly urge parts of the'cover against the bottom wall of the groove-orgrooves 48, all I as shown in Fig. 1-6. 'Ihen 'ashell' member-'40 having a handle 46 may fit thereover andlflanges thereof can extend downwardly adjacent the sides of the covered block so as to conceal the retaining means.

If desired the shell 40 may have downwardlyextending prongs 41 which may engage the block in some manner, as by being seated in recesses 52 provided in the block. Of course, other means of holding the assembly together may be used.

In Fig. 15, there is shown a block 60 having recesses 62 similar to recesses 52. Here, the block, preferably formed of wood, as above stated, has a continuous groove 84 which extends around the sides of the block at the ends thereof and then goes up over the upper surface thereof, as shown. Thus the clip member above mentioned is not necessary and the spring may seat in the groove throughout and bear on all of the marginal edge portions of the cover.

While I have described this invention in specific detail with respect to the present preferred form thereof, it is understood that many changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. What it is desired to claim is:

l. A buffer of the class described comprising in combination, abuffer body having upper and lower and side walls and provided with a groove which extends around a part of said side walls and continues into the upper wall, a cover member of foldable material folded about the lower and side walls of said body and having marginal edge parts seated in said groove, and a springlike retaining member seated in said groove and yieldingly bearing on said marginal. edge parts of the cover to yieldingly hold the cover on the body.

2. A buffer of the class described comprising in combination, a buffer body provided with a groove on its periphery, a cover member of foldable material folded about the lower part of said body and having marginal edge parts seated in. said groove, a spring-like retaining member seated in said groove and yieldingly bearing on. said marginal edge parts of the cover to yieldingly hold the cover on the body, said groove and retaining member being so arranged that the latter does not project beyond the planes of the sides of the covered body, and a U-shaped clip member associated with said body and having side parts disposed adjacent said spring-like retaining member.

3. A buffer of the class described comprising in combination, a buffer body provided with a groove in a surface thereof which has an open side with portions of the open side of the groove directed in opposite direction, a cover member of foldable material folded about the lower part of said body and having marginal edge parts seated in said groove, a spring-like retaining member seated in said groove and yieldingly bearing on said marginal edge parts of the cover to yieldingly hold the cover on the body, and a clip member associated with said body and having parts extending adjacent said groove and projecting thereover and receiving said retaining member.

4. A buffer of the class described comprising in combination, a buffer body provided with a continuous groove which extends around the ends thereof and up over the upper surface thereof, a cover member of foldable material folded about the lower part of said body and having marginal edge parts seated in said groove, and a spring-like retaining member seated in said groove and yieldingly bearing on said marginal edge parts of the cover to yieldingly hold the cover on the body.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a buffer of the class described comprising in combination, a buffer body having upper and lower and side walls and provided with a groove in a side wall, a clip member associated with said body and having a part extending upwardly adjacent said groove to form a slot having an upwardlydirected open end, a cover member of foldable material folded about the lower and side walls of said body and having marginal edge parts seated in said groove and extending up over said clip member and into said slot, and a spring-like retaining member seated in said groove and received in said slot and yieldingly bearing on said marginal edge parts of the cover member to yieldingly hold the same on the body.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a buffer of the class described comprising in combination, a buffer body having upper and lower and side walls and provided with a recess in a side wall, a cover member of foldable material folded about the lower and side walls of said body and having a portion thereof seated in said recess, and a top member on said body having a flange extending downwardly around the upper part of said body and having an inwardly-extending projection extending into said recess and bearing on the portion of the cover member therein.

'7. As a new article of manufacture, a buffer of the class described comprising in combination, a buffer body having upper and lower and side walls and provided with a recess in a side wall, a cover member of foldable material folded about the lower and side walls of said body and having a portion thereof seated in said recess, and a top member on said body having a flange extending downwardly around the upper part of said body, said flange being formed to have a yieldable tongue which yieldingly bears on a portion of the cover member.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a buffer of the class described comprising in combination, a buffer body having upper and lower and side walls and provided with a pair of'spaced grooves in a side wall, a cover member of foldable material folded about the lower and side walls of said body and having portions thereof seated in said grooves, a spring-like retaining member seated in the upper of said grooves and yieldingly bearing on the portion of the cover member which is seated therein, and a top member on said body having a flange extending downwardly around the upper part of said body and having an inwardly extending projection extending into the lower of said grooves and bearing on the portion of the cover member which is seated therein.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a buffer of the class described comprising in combination, a buffer body having upper and lower and side walls, said body being provided with a pair of spaced recesses, a cover member of foldab-le material folded about the lower part of said body and having marginal edge portions extending upwardly adjacent the side walls, and a top mem ber on said body having a peripheral flange extending downwardly around the upper part thereof to overlap the said marginal edge parts of the cover, said top member being provided with a pair of spaced wedge parts which extend into said recesses so as to urge the sides of the body outwardly so that the said marginal edge parts of the cover are clamped between the side walls of the body and said flange.

WILLIAM R. WA'I'ROUS. 

